By: Chebet Naserian September 22, 2020September 29, 2020 Soul & Purpose Work, Temple Work12 Comments

Handling rejection

Until this year, I had done what needed to be done, the way they said it should be done and with the people they said it should be done with. I do not know if that was as a result of being the first born or just a disposition to take the safest path. What…

By: Chebet Naserian July 25, 2020August 13, 2020 Body & Mind Work, Temple WorkCheblocs, cheblocsat6, loc journey, locsLeave a Comment

6 reasons I am glad I got locs

The school holiday of June 2014 holiday was the longest time I had spent with my hair as it grows: no cornrows, no braid extensions, no weaves just my hair in two strand twists or in a fro. At that time my mummy had issues with it because where I saw two strand twists, she…

By: Chebet Naserian June 24, 2020June 26, 2020 Identity Work, Temple Workafricanism, christianity, existential crisis, feminsim, identity, reconciling identities7 Comments

The clash of identities: Reconciling my Christianity with my Afrikanist and feminist identities

I was brought up by Christian parents. We always prayed before meals and went to church every Sunday – we still do. There was never a need to debate about it, it just was. I also attended academic institutions that nurtured my belief in Christ. In fact, for a long time Christian practices were all I…

By: Chebet Naserian June 14, 2020June 14, 2020 Friendship, RelationshipsLeave a Comment

A letter to my LGBTQIA+ friends and acquaintances

Hello friend, This letter has been in my heart for some time now. I have always felt disappointed by the way I have failed to show up for you as an ally in a world where your sexuality (sexual orientation and/or gender identity) is a literal crime. I am changing that. The first aim of…

By: Chebet Naserian May 23, 2020May 24, 2020 Identity Work, Temple Work10 Comments

Why changing my name was and still is important

I changed my preferred name from Shanice to Chebet on the 6th of July, 2014. I know because I wrote all about it the next day on my former blog (which will never see the light of day again😂). In the blog article I cite Hugh Masekela’s ALA speech, this post and a Spoken Word event…

By: Chebet Naserian May 18, 2020May 19, 2020 Family, Relationships13 Comments

Realising my parents are just people

This post is a reflection prompted by Foster’s question on this For Harriet Instagram post: How old were you when you realised your parents were just people? I can’t point to a specific time. I think it was more of a slow realisation, accelerated by adulting. Pre-adulting, my parents were demi-gods in my eyes. They were always right. They…

By: Chebet Naserian May 9, 2020May 19, 2020 Family, Relationships7 Comments

Two mothers, one family

I have two mothers. I call one mummy and the other mum. Mummy birthed me but they both raised and continue to support me. Both are married to my father. However, polygyny has little to do with the reason I consider them both my mothers. Rather, it has more to do with the outcome of…

By: Chebet Naserian April 21, 2020May 19, 2020 Relationships, Sisterhood, Soul & Purpose Work8 Comments

9 lessons from homeschooling my sisters

The day was Sunday the 15th of March; while I dropped my sister, the boarder, back to school the president announced the closure of all schools on account of COVID-19. We picked her books and returned home shooketh to the core. This is also the day I had planned to leave for South Africa to…

About

Mambo? Supa? Yomunee? Unjani? Hello? The names I choose to go by are Chebet Naserian. Out of my four names, Shanice Chebet Naserian Kuntai, they best represent my physical identity as an Afrikan womxn and spiritual identity as an agent of light and goodness. Afrikanist Feminist Christian As an Afrikan Womxn these are my core identities…

Chai with Chebet Newsletter

This Newsletter is an extension of my creative expression and passion to build community of people intentionally working on themselves and their relationships. I will be sharing the 7 lessons I have learnt in the month, backed up by the tea farm of experiences and resources that have informed them. Once in a while, like any good chai…

Contact

Thank you for being here. Let’s connect!

Live your best life NOW

By: Chebet Naserian October 20, 2020

Soul & Purpose Work, Temple Work6 Comments

Before this year, my best life was going to start in my forties after I had secured bags and achieved ‘stability’. Maybe somewhere on a private jet, sipping on champagne on my way to the Maldives. However, recent events in my life have made me question why I think my forties or even tomorrow is…

When what you studied is not what you want to do

By: Chebet Naserian September 29, 2020September 29, 2020

Soul & Purpose Work, Temple Workcareer choices, changing career paths, quantity surveyingLeave a Comment

For my undergraduate, I wanted to study gender, philosophy and politics and my parents wanted me to study engineering. I ended up choosing a BSc in Construction Studies as a sort of “middle ground”🙃. I then specialised by getting a BSc Honours in Quantity Surveying. As a quantity surveyor, a cost consultant for the construction industry,…

Why you might not be asking for help

By: Chebet Naserian September 7, 2020September 7, 2020

Soul & Purpose Work, Temple WorkLeave a Comment

This might be the ubuntu in me speaking but I don’t think one can thrive in this world without help. Yet I have glorified not needing help so much that I have to keep fighting all my instincts to ask for it. Going into this year I knew I wouldn’t make it without help so…

25 self-care ideas for a healthy body, mind and soul

By: Chebet Naserian August 31, 2020August 31, 2020

Body & Mind Work, Soul & Purpose Work, Temple WorkLeave a Comment

This is the greatest I have felt since adulting started. My body is healthy and glowing; my mind is free and alert; and my soul is whole and happy. Here are some activities that I have been doing that I attribute to these feelings of newness and joy. I tried to divide them by mind,…

How I lost 8kgs sustainably

By: Chebet Naserian August 28, 2020August 30, 2020

Body & Mind Work, Temple Workbody image, fitness, templeworkwithchebet, weightlossLeave a Comment

I have lost approximately 8 Kgs this past 8 months sustainably. What I mean by sustainably is that I did it while keeping healthy and accepting my body in all its stages. The few times I tried to lose weight before was from a place of self-loathing which led to yoyo dieting which in turn…

A love letter to my body

By: Chebet Naserian August 25, 2020

Body & Mind Work, Temple Work4 Comments

Dear Body, I know you are feeling the best you have felt in a while because my spirit and soul are also feeling that way. This positive correlation has been my most magical realisation about you so far, Despite the circumstances you are thriving and I couldn’t be prouder of your strength and resilient existence.…

10 reasons I wear short clothes (the male gaze isn’t one)

By: Chebet Naserian August 10, 2020August 14, 2020

Body & Mind Work, Temple Work12 Comments

This is for any womxn who has been made to feel that the way they dress has nothing to do with them and everything to do with the men in their lives: their reactions, their perceptions, their tastes, their uncontrollable sexual desires – the male gaze. I would like to especially dedicate this post to my…

40 Movie Recommendations from my sisters and I

By: Chebet Naserian July 23, 2020

Body & Mind Work, Temple WorkLeave a Comment

My sisters and I recorded another youtube video. This time sharing our favourite movies of all time. Here’s the list for future reference. Enjoy!Horror/Fiction/Thriller/Mystery Gerald’s Game The escape room Star Wars Animal World Velvet Buzzsaw The Perfection Get Out Comedy/Cartoon Hangover Girls Trip Angus Thongs Perfect snogging Koffee & Kareem Late night Smurfs Taylor…